A university graduate who scrapped her plans for law school to start a swimwear label has seen her designs worn by the world’s biggest stars including Gigi Hadid.
Sophia Kim, 29, launched Siempre Golden in 2014 after falling in love with Brazilian cut bikinis on a high school trip to Hawaii.
The Seattle-born businesswoman dashed her mother’s dreams of her becoming a lawyer in the process, but seven years later she makes an average of $20,000 a month from her provocative designs.
In a bid to take her brand global, Ms Kim moved from Los Angeles to Sydney in February 2020, just one month before Australia slammed shut its international borders at the outbreak of the pandemic.
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Communications graduate Sophia Kim (pictured) scrapped her plans for law school to start a swimwear line in 2014
The Seattle-born businesswoman sells provocative styles (left and right) which earn her an average of $20,000 (AUD) per month
Ms Kim has seen her swimwear worn by some of the world’s biggest stars including supermodel Gigi Hadid (pictured in a Siempre Golden bikini top in 2018)
‘Three weeks later, the whole world was in lockdown. I got very lucky with deciding to want to live in Sydney, it’s been my safe haven through all of this,’ she told Daily Mail Australia.
Ms Kim’s swimwear, which is made in Bali from a blend of nylon and spandex, has been worn by a bevvy of influencers and celebrities such as actress Shay Mitchell and model Chantel Jeffries, best known for her 2014 romance with Justin Bieber.
Business Insider included Siempre Golden in its list of 21 fashion and beauty labels owned by Asian American and Pacific Islanders to support in 2021.
Ms Kim’s best-selling designs are the $228 (AUD) Scorpio and $216 (AUD) Lust sets, as well as the Aroused one-piece which will set you back $154 (AUD).
Many of her bikinis double as crop tops that can be paired with high-waisted shorts or jeans, making them more versatile and better value than others on the market.
Her own best model: Ms Kim wears two of her own designs in Instagram photos taken in Sydney (left) and Byron Bay (right) in 2020
Siempre Golden bikinis (one pictured) are made in Bali from a blend of nylon and spandex
Ms Kim believes her swimwear stands out from similar styles because of its quality at such an affordable price.
‘When I got into the industry there weren’t any interesting designs at a reasonable price point,’ she said.
‘My designs are very special to me. I design thinking about the emotions I can evoke in each customer when they are wearing it…I want women to feel sexy and confident in their bodies.’
The savvy entrepreneur, who now employs a team of four staff, has been hard at work since moving Down Under, pitching her designs to buyers for the Harbour City’s high-end clothing stores.
Ms Kim believes her swimwear (pictured on influencers) stands out from similar styles because of its quality at an affordable price
Ms Kim (pictured in Watson’s Bay) said she hopes to see more women sporting her swimwear on beaches across Australia next summer
‘I tried to sell my label to boutiques in Mosman and they would tell me that only only girls in Bondi would wear these kinds of styles,’ she said.
‘My styles are very fashion-forward, more for looks than for function and swimming. I think swimwear in Australia is still more about function and the styles are more conservative here.’
Ms Kim said her swimwear is designed for tanning, wearing as outwear or posing for photos in on a boat party, and hopes to see more women sporting it on the beach next summer.
‘Siempre Golden is ready for you, Australia,’ she added.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk
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